5 May 2014

Confirmed LFC XI vs. CPFC: £8m star axed. Huge Mistake. Has BR blown the title?

So, this is it: arguably the most important league game of the season. Liverpool need a BIG win to keep the pressure on Manchester City, and although the title is not longer in the club's hands, it's still mathematically possible. Can the Reds do it?

FULL TEAM: Mignolet, Johnson, Flanagan, Skrtel, Sakho, Gerrard, Allen, Lucas, Sterling, Sturridge, Suarez

SUBS: Jones, Toure, Agger, Coutinho, Aspas, Moses, Cissokho

PALACE: Speroni, Mariappa, Dann, Delaney, Ward, Dikgacoi, Jedinak, Ledley, Bolasie, Puncheon, Chamakh

Coutinho on the bench, and Lucas/Allen in the same team again? It's an overly cautious line-up, which contains only four players capable of making a specific, measurable attacking impact.

Additionally, Coutinho and Sturridge have a great understanding, and Rodgers should've exploited that today. Instead, he's sacrificed creativity and dynamism for defensiveness, in a game that LFC have to be by a big margin.

Are Lucas and Allen going to pick up the slack?! No chance. And don't give me this 'recycling possession' nonsense - how is that going to help LFC score lots of goals?

Rodgers has confirmed that Coutinho 'has a bit of a problem', but that's never stopped the manager using 'injured' players in the past. If he's injured, why risk him on the bench? Additionally, in his press conference on Friday, Rodgers said nothing about Coutinho's alleged injury.

Predicting a 1-1 draw, Anfield legend Mark Lawrenson warned the Reds to expect a 'very difficult game', adding:

"Liverpool need a lift after their defeat against Chelsea last week, when they looked leggy in the last 20 minutes. It will be a big ask for them to raise their game at the end of a long season when they are tired mentally and physically and can see the title slipping away".

I can't see Liverpool winning this with a big scoreline. Rodgers should've gone for the throat, and then changed things later if necessary. Instead, he's played right into Man City's hands.

Of course, I hope am proven wrong :-)

Author:


252 comments:

  1. Not much worried as its over now but really after this BR deserves the manager of the year award. To play on this night lucas allen together and leave cou on bench is outstanding.

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  2. Outstanding? Are you having a laugh?

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  3. I would have gone with Coutinho over Lucas but there must be reasons why Rodgers has gone with this lineup which we will not know of.


    I just want us to take 3 points!

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  4. Doesn't Jamie K write some crap. Since when did he become a more successful manager than BR. How does your track record Jamie compare with BR. How many points have you gained in the premier league this season.

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  5. Jonathan Capozzola7:32 pm, May 05, 2014

    Not a fan of Lucas and Allen in the same team. I really wish Hendo was back.

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  6. Jonathan Capozzola7:36 pm, May 05, 2014

    LFC twitter account said BR confirmed Coutinho has a slight injury too.

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  7. Why are people still questioning the manager???

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  8. And who are we to know better of who should start and who shouldn't. Maybe it is best to leave the job to the real manager ;-)

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  9. Lucas is a liability end off, cannot tackle, cannot score, too slow......passenger 57!!
    Shows BR's midfield lacks depth and will hopefully add some quality in the summer.

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  10. really missing hendo

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  11. Brendan has just confirmed that Coutinho is injured

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  12. you have just posted tino over lucas ?

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  13. But Jaimie will say he's lying

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  14. Did you read my original post properly???

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  15. Karikamuri Shanmugan7:42 pm, May 05, 2014

    Do u really think,we can become champions on GD?Honestly I don't see it happening,and Rodgers is thinking on similar lines and he is looking for a win here.Logically thinking,I can understand that.

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  16. i dont read any posts properly

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  17. Now go read my second post in reply to Jonathan Capozzola.

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  18. Karikamuri Shanmugan7:44 pm, May 05, 2014

    Coutinho is not fit enough to start.BR just confirmed that in his pre- match interview.

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  19. We need a bit of a reality check if we think we're going to make up the nine goal difference on city. We need to just concentrate on winning the game to put pressure back on City. I'll take a 1.0 right now.

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  20. Coutinho has an injury. Maybe you should reconsider some of your bold statements.

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  21. If he's on the bench then he's fit enough to play.

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  22. Jonathan Capozzola7:46 pm, May 05, 2014

    Agree 100%. Making up 9 goals in two games is a huge, almost impossible, ask. Lets just get 3 points.

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  23. Jonathan Capozzola7:47 pm, May 05, 2014

    Sturridge was on the bench last week and managed 30 minutes of very uninspiring football. On the bench doesn't always mean you are fit to start or contribute to your full capabilities.

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  24. just what we need ...bring on an injured player when your chasing the game

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  25. Wrong. For example Sturridge was on the bench last week but was clearly not fit enough to play

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  26. especially with two goal machines like allen and lucas

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  27. A slightly injured Coutinho is still the best attacking option we have on the bench

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  28. and he was garbbage

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  29. Sturridge was injured for a couple of weeks, and wasn't match fit. Coutinho played the full 90 mins last week, and clearly is match-fit. Plus, when asked about injuries during his friday press conference. Rodgers didn't say anything about Coutinho. Something must've happened over the last two days, which seem unlikely, unless it's a training injury.

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  30. who says hes slightly injured has he bit his tongue...a footballer with a leg injury is as much use as a chocolate fire guard

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  31. Exactly. If he's injured, why is he on the bench?

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  32. Slipperie_Slope7:52 pm, May 05, 2014

    There had to have been some injury as was just confirmed. After playing most of the season to out-score opponents by starting the most attacking team at his disposal, he would hardly revert to a defensive posture in the only game of the season where we had to get a cricket score, unless it was enforced.

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  33. BR has shown he's not afraid to make changes at any point of the game so let's just see how it goes.

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  34. i was going to say he could of gone with Alberto and aspoas

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  35. Jonathan Capozzola7:57 pm, May 05, 2014

    Sturridge didn't look like he could even handle 30 minutes last week. Unfortunately failures in the transfer market came back to bit them last week. I am just wondering though, do you think BR is lying or do you think Coutinho picked up a training injury?

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  36. Finally! You will never hear the end of this, Jaimie :)

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  37. Slipperie_Slope8:19 pm, May 05, 2014

    JOOOOOOEEEE ALLLLLEN!!
    who had it?......

    NOT me!

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  38. Logan scored!!! Sorry Allen,,

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  39. Oh god. Logan will be living off that goal for the rest of time now. God help us.

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  40. We could be three or four or more up by now, too, it's a great performance so far.

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  41. Brendan Rodgers does not know what he is doing!!!

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  42. at the beginning of the season i had a bet with jason carr, that allen will get more than 7 goals/assist this season... only 5 left! come on joe you're my boy!

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  43. And no, I do not have to go bragging about Allen scoring but it sure puts a sock in his naysayers for once

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  44. I think his posting regularity is inversely proportional to our success.

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  45. I like Joe Allen as well :)

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  46. Mignolet is on fire!

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  47. You red my mind :-o

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  48. Thou Shall not get through!

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  49. Beat you. Blahh. Are you my twin?

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  50. Only De Gea can really fly like Mignolet in the Premier League. He looks so spectacular when he takes off.

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  51. Slipperie_Slope8:38 pm, May 05, 2014

    Aspas has feet?

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  52. Hahaha. You like Allen as well :)

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  53. Will someone please get that blue shit off the pitch. I'm sure it's going to cost us a goal, a la the beachball!

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  54. Johnson gets worse by the minute.

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  55. Nothing Suarez has done today has come off. Form is such a mysterious thing.

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  56. 1 in 51 that guys prolific

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  57. suarez playing with divers boots

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  58. come off it more like the second

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  59. Oh!! boy. We needed this Sturridge against chelsea

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  60. On your bike Mourinho.

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  61. common, only 7 goals to go!

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  62. Flood gates are starting to open!

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  63. So how is this overly defensive formation working out?

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  64. 1 goal away from 100 for the season.

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  65. C'mon 20 mins of arsenal game!

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  66. I'm watching a pretty decent game of football really. All credit to Pulis and Palace for continuing to make this a game even though they're 3-0 down. It's nice when both teams show up for a game. And contrary to Pulis' Stoke, this team doesn't appear to be a team of thugs and kickers.

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  67. The odds of us overturning the goal difference wre probably 1000000/1. Whereas Cityx dropping points in one oftheir games, probably 5/1.

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  68. The amazing thing is that really, this *could* have been just about 10-0 to us. It really could.

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  69. It's also clear what Kono would bring to the squad. Sterling still has some work to do before he is near that level. Cannot shoot with power and takes too many touches inside the box...and he's off...

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  70. I don't know. They have Suarez about enough.

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  71. fuck just take the 3 points!

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  72. Fook just take the 3 points

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  73. Well of course they cannot just let us play but it's not what this team is all about. With Stoke, that's all there was. And they're worse now under Hughes...who is of course the worst manager in the league since Bryan Robson

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  74. Well at least we know why we concede so many goals...

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  75. this will go in... they are slaughtering us

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  76. Come on boys. Hang in there!

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  77. And we're back to being wasteful, falling over and moaning..

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  78. Oh god, the script is now written. Tom Ince will probably score/create a goal, and punish LFC for not signing him.

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  79. And we bring on Victor Moses...

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  80. wtf is the point of taking off sturridge? Ridiculous substitution.

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  81. Liverpool formation this season:


    --------


    -------- -------- ------- ------


    -------


    Gerrard


    Gun factory

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  82. I cast iron guarantee city will draw now

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  83. well...if you play like this, you don't deserve to win the league. Simple as that.Palace got exactly what they deserved for staying in the game. All credit to them

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  84. This is the Palace 4-3 game from 1999 all over again...

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  85. thats is what you call bottling it

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  86. How on earth can you control a game for 80 minutes, create chance after chance after chance and still throw it all away??? Cowards.

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  87. Cowards? Get a grip mate.

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  88. I think we can lay to rest the myth that Allen and Lucas = defensively solid.

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  89. sterling off they score 3

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  90. That's what they played like

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  91. when your trying to score can someone explain why you take your two best strikers off

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  92. congrats people on the jinx when they kept repeating that the title was one after man city ;)

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  93. Jesus all those people talking about goal difference. Fucking stupid

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  94. Should've been sturridge there to take that shot, not Moses.

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  95. Yes, good point. Utterly ridiculous. Yet both Allen and Lucas stay on.

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  96. Unbelievable - I'm off.

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  97. Theycallmemrburt9:55 pm, May 05, 2014

    Ronnie still in his seat and Liverpool on their arse. What a crap night of sport.

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  98. Suarez crying.

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  99. Naievity, just take the 3 points... What's the point on leaving a defence so open even when your 3-0 up.. Disrespectful to palace at home who have played excellently under pulis

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  100. thats what u call bottling it. we deserve to be laughed at.

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  101. Gerrard, sorry for your teammates

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  102. we took our strikers off we posed no threat so they attacked ...sheer genius

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  103. do you know the definition of the word ? the defense blow it i don't know what cowardice has to do with it.

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  104. Sturridge wouldn't have closed out the counter beforehand. Moses did.

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  105. he wasn't brilliant today either.

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  106. Of course he's crying, he scores 31 goals in a season and only because he has to play with a bunch of incompetent group of rubbish defenders and goalkeeper does he not lift the title this year

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  107. we can lay rest the myth that allen and lucas are any good

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  108. Can't believe we still went all out after leading 3-0. I mean who realisticaly thought we could catch up that +9 goal difference with City?
    What we needed most today was 3 points and our pure arrogance has prevented us from that

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  109. he just doesn't deserve this

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  110. Our defence is an absolute disgrace. What a disgrace. 3 goals like that. Against f**king palace. Palace. WIth 10 minutes left
    What an absolute farce. Coutinho coming on f**cked us Jaimie, not the ohter way around. I'm just lost for words. Our attacking players deserve to bloody whip our defenders. Suarez does all that hard f**king work and the defence just bottles it.

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  111. sssshhhhh don't let them realise that Sturridge was exhausted they need a reason to moan other than jinxing it times after times after times.

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  112. Theycallmemrburt9:58 pm, May 05, 2014

    Jordan Henderson's price tag just went up by £4mill and he didnt even play. Missed him badly.

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  113. why not you reap what you sow in life

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  114. That from the second they scored 3-2, we lost every duel in defense because they pulled out and just let them run at us. They played like a bunch of girls. Other than Skrtel and Flanagan every bloody defender in this squad should be sold

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  115. he's inelligible due to the red card against manc

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  116. sako is rubbish hes an hospital pass waiting to happen 5m player tops

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  117. Gary Neville's full of shit. We scored 100 goals in the league this season. We're going nowhere. Concede five or six goals fewer and we'd be clear at the top. And the league isn't done yet. City still have to get results in both games.

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  118. Cant believe it Palace geez.

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  119. yep Mignolet toally at fault for glen own goal and skrtel disapearance on the other 2...

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  120. Skrtel has cost 2 goal today...

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  121. he just once slipped... that cost him his dream

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  122. the answer is we were not trying to score anymore but keep our advantage. But it was too late. We should have done it at 3-0

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  123. do u seriously think the results of those 2 games are in doubt? i know its not over till its over but come on.

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  124. its inches not yards which define winners

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  125. Theycallmemrburt10:02 pm, May 05, 2014

    yeah I know Kev. I'm just pointing out how important his game is to us. Lucas jogs, Gerrard jogs and Henderson sprints. Defensively our midfield ceased operations after our third.

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  126. well they lose one and it's on but realistically after today's result they'll be in a to good mood to blow it

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  127. Why Skrtel, did you come out like that!?? Still had the old scew up left in you didn't you!

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  128. Why do you blame Skrtel? What about Sakho? Is he not a central defender too? Why does he escape blame? Sakho is the problem, not Skrtel. It's no surprise that those two have just one clean sheet together all season. Compare that with Skrtel/Agger, and there's a big difference.

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  129. we took are threat off to counter attack that why they poured forward ....im sorry but for me Gerrard Allen and Lucas need to be put out to pasture ..next year sterling hendo and a new guy in midfield

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  130. Coward is a fitting word in fact...No one stood up to be counted, they just collapsed.

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  131. Still can't believe it was possible the blow it that much... some heads will fall this summer for sure

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  132. The same ol' question will bother us again for the next few weeks "will suarez stay"

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  133. No, I'm not having that.

    £3m tops.

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  134. ...HOW DID MOSES MISS THAT BALL. SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN FFS! YOU'RE A TOP PAID PROFESSIONAL MATE. KICK IT.

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  135. 2m to an agent to get shut

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  136. im sorry... moses a professional???

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  137. Just speechless...

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  138. Skrtel going out of his line when he couldn't possibly get the ball let gayle get in a duel with mignolet and the second goal i literraly don't know where he was

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  139. does anyone else get the feeling this team is cursed?

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  140. I don't think Coutinho is to blame for anything. Rodgers taking off Sterling and Sturridge was a big mistake. Plus, defensively, it was pants.

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  141. Well one thing's for sure:


    As long as Gerrard is playing.... he's unfortunately coursed... Won't see any title inside Anfield

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  142. agree jk i thought sako was the solution but hes rubbish skirtal and agger are poles better

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  143. Sterling is a forward but yeah this midfield is rubbish, it's actually a miracle that we might finish second.

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  144. I feel like with 3 top additions over the summer (RB, LB and DM), we should be unstoppable next year. Weakness in those 3 spots this season has cost us. Oh, and BR needs to make a leader out of our CBs, it feels like they are never communicating.

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  145. Theycallmemrburt10:07 pm, May 05, 2014

    BR hates losing or throwing points away, you can tell by what a bad sport he is in interviews if we do. Skrtel for all the improvements that he's made this season broke lines for the third goal and left a gaping hole. Where was the midfield? WHere was TOure or Agger? Three at the back would have closed it out

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  146. ive said all year a midfield of allen lucas and gerrard is to slow ...no body picks the runners up they just jog back

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  147. I feel sick. Get Steve Clarke back I reckon. Sort outthis fucking defence

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  148. I agree, he should have taken off Suarez instead. Shouldn't have messed with the midfield so early. Sterling was doing a good job of tracking back and Suarez was giving the ball away too much.

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  149. As long as Suarez stays, Gerrard will lift the trophy in the next 3 year's time.

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  150. Lucas has dissapoint me big time in this match was REALLY useless, neot there defensively nor offensively

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  151. What a season. Who actually thought that we would be top of the League this with one match to play? We have pretty much blown it now but crazy thing is that it is still not over...

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  152. He's a Chelsea boy... Just made an extra grand for missing that

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  153. How the hell they couldnt defend out 10 minutes against Palace no wonder Suarez is upset.

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  154. I would have been happy with 4th, but being so so so close to winning it then throwing it away on a Gerrard slip-up and defensive f#*k up is just painful, I still have hope we will win it int he next 3 years.

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  155. true, amazing season but really annoyed to let City get the title so "easily" instead of goal difference, finishing ahead of Chelsea would fell great.

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  156. Leeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrroooooooooooyyyyyyyyyy Jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeennnnnkkiiinns!

    I mean Gleeeeeeeeennnnnnnnn Jooooooooooooooohnsonn!

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  157. Well that's it then. A mad ten minutes in defence and the season is finished. Been a great season but defensively poor, conceding nearly 50 goals in a season is shocking.

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  158. Slipperie_Slope10:13 pm, May 05, 2014

    Palace have conceded 6 fewer goals this season than Liverpool.

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  159. We have 9th best defence. Says it all

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  160. They have only scored 31 though.

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  161. I think we should announce the new manager for next season:
    David Copperfield
    He's the right man for the job!

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  162. Haha. Yes. Agent Moses. Job done.

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  163. Slipperie_Slope10:15 pm, May 05, 2014

    Just took time out from vomiting to post that.
    Aaand back I go!

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  164. hes finished i was his biggest fan but the games moved on

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  165. To be honest, with those kind of stats I'm not sure we deserve to be champions. Or in other words, it's absolutely normal if we're not.

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  166. Yeah, our defence has been our downfall.

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  167. trust me you dont need to pay that chump to miss

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  168. ahah more like "LIVERPOOL DEFENSSEEE" but yeah pretty much it.

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  169. Theycallmemrburt10:17 pm, May 05, 2014

    and now Ronnies blown it too................. I blame the psychologist

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  170. Ronnie just lost the snooker not a good day for our sports psych either!!

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  171. we don't already have him? look ! our defense has disapeared! ta da *magic*

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  172. Theycallmemrburt10:19 pm, May 05, 2014

    watch out England Dr Steve Peters is coming!

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  173. Reading all the comments today...I think its a bit harsh. We were hoping to finish in top 6 this season or maybe top 5 but we will finish 2nd and its a massive massive achievement. I am very proud of the lads...they made us dream for the title and gave their absolute everything. I feel for Gerrard. ..the guy has been so influential during his entire career and yet again played some of the best football he saved it for his new deep lying role. I hope the core of the team stays the same for the next season and hopefully we continue to challenge for years to come. Next year WE GO AGAIN...!!!!

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  174. Theycallmemrburt10:21 pm, May 05, 2014

    Agreed. But 3-0 is 3-0.

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  175. You need a nap

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  176. Forgot to Praise Allen the silent killer for his solitary but decisive strike of the season

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  177. Looked at Suarezes reaction he has given his heart and soul just upsetting mate but yes we could dream.

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  178. Unforgivable.

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  179. Im more upset with how the lads just stopped playing when we were 3 up…we would break and no one would be in support. Can't remember how many times sterling was walking with the ball because nobody was doing anything. We missed enough chances as well to score 5 or 6 as well! Not sure where the lathargic attitude came from with our front men today because it really should have been more by then, but to your point, our defense lost us the league this season plain and simple. Embarassing performance all around...

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  180. If you mean Moses then that's a change for the worse.The most disaster player I've seen in 40 years watching LFC,gutless,heartless.

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  181. Brendan Rodgers has done well but I'm not too confident he knows how to fix the defence.

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  182. wtf you talking with yourself dude?

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  183. refresh your page happened the other day...names look like the same but are not

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  184. wtf is wrong with disqus?

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  185. I'm upset too. But I believe the greatest lessons are learned from the most painful defeats, or draws.

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  186. good point.

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  187. While you're right this lesson has come too late...(though it was already there from the Norwich game but we got away with it so it clearly wasn't taken in)

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  188. Moses is a pee*or*eye*sea*quay.

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